![Watching a small group scrimmage, Ben Lundt, St. Louis City SC goalkeeper and founder of Lundt Pro Soccer Training, shouts words of encouragement to players on Sunday, April 26 n the Lafayette grass soccer field. “The idea behind [the event] was to bring the professional soccer players closer to the community because usually people only get to see us on TV or in the stadium. [Families] actually having the opportunity to have their kids on the field with us is the most important aspect,” Ben Lundt said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6823-1200x800.jpg)
![In celebration of winning his second straight state title in the 215 weight class, junior Carter Brown backflips before leaving the mat. Brown won his bout against junior Kobe Rhymes of North Kansas City High School by fall in just 41 seconds. "Carter does what Carter does. We expect [success] out of him and his goals are bigger than the state championship," coach Sam Ritchie said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2784-1200x800.jpg)
The nominees for the 23rd annual ROSE (Rockwood Outstanding Service in Education) Award have been announced. Winners of the ROSE awards will be notified and receive balloons and flowers Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Of the over 245 Rockwood staff members nominated for the award, 15 will receive the award. They winnners of the ROSE award will be honored at a May 6 ceremony at the Double Tree Hotel in Westport.
Eight ROSE nominees are from Lafayette, including Nichole Ballard-Long, Brian Fish, Joe Gutowski, Monique Merritt, Caroline Podgornik, Betsy Rivas, Krista Silvernail and Kathy Soucy.
Nominees Podgornik and Ballard-Long note that the recognition of their work that comes along with the nomination means a lot to both of them.
“It’s just nice to be appreciated by students,” Podgornik said.
“It’s a really big honor to be noimated for the ROSE award and sort of a mystery too because I don’t know who nominated me or why they nominated me, so it’s kind of cool to be nominated but it will be even cooler when I get to find out who nominated me,” Ballard-Long said.
She continued, “Whether I win or not, it’s a pretty big deal in the District to be nominated.”